Remote control transmitter

ABSTRACT

A remote control transmitter is so constructed that when a group menu representing a combination of individual functions is selected by operation of an operating part, a controller effects display of the individual functions of the group menu in parallel with the group menu. Since the correspondence between an overview of the plurality of group menus and the individual functions of the specified group menu is easy to understand, the remote control transmitter obtained allows easy setting of the function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a remote control transmitter forremotely controlling an apparatus.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] With increasing numbers of devices capable of remotelycontrolling an apparatus such as a television or a videocassetterecorder, remote control transmitters each capable of remotelycontrolling a plurality of such apparatuses through operation haverecently increased in number.

[0005] Also, devices capable of storing a plurality of frequently usedindividual functions and sending a specified function of these setfunctions or all the set individual functions have increased in number.

[0006] With reference to FIGS. 6-8A, 8B and 8C, one of such conventionalremote control transmitters is described hereinafter.

[0007]FIG. 6 is an external view of the conventional remote controltransmitter. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the same remote controltransmitter. In FIG. 6, the remote control transmitter is provided withdisplay part 1, such as a liquid crystal display element, at its leftfront.

[0008] At the right front of the remote control transmitter, up and downselection buttons 2D, 2E, left and right selection buttons 2F, 2G,“ENTER” button 2C, “POWER” button 2A and others are arranged, thusforming operating part 2.

[0009] The remote control transmitter is stored with controller 3.Transmitter 4 is disposed above display part 1, converts an electricsignal from controller 3 into an infrared signal and transmits theinfrared signal. Transmitter 4, operating part 2 and display part 1 areconnected to controller 3. In this way, the remote control transmitteris formed.

[0010] A description is provided next of a remote control using thethus-constructed remote control transmitter for turning on, for example,the power to the television.

[0011] First, “POWER” button 2A is pressed. Upon detecting this press,controller 3 causes display part 1 to display an initial screen, such asillustrated by FIG. 8A. This initial screen shows an apparatus menu suchas “TV”, which denotes the television to be remotely controlled, andothers.

[0012] Here, translucent cursor 1A used for selecting a displayed optionappears on “TV” located at the top of the screen. Subsequently, “ENTER”button 2C is pressed with cursor 1A located at “TV”. Upon detecting thispress, controller 3 effects display of a screen, such as illustrated byFIG. 8B, showing the individual functions including “ON”, whichrepresents the turning-on of the power to the television.

[0013] On this screen, cursor 1A appears on “ON” located at the upperleft. When “ENTER” button 2C is pressed with cursor 1A located at “ON”,controller 3 outputs the electric signal corresponding to “ON” forremote control. Transmitter 4 converts this electric signal into theinfrared signal and transmits this infrared signal. Consequently, thepower to the television is turned on by remote control.

[0014] A description is provided next of setting or storage of theplurality of individual functions including turning on the power to thetelevision, turning on the power to the videocassette recorder andplaying back a videocassette, and transmission of a specified functionof these set functions.

[0015] First, “HOME” button 2B shown in FIG. 6 is pressed to display, asshown in FIG. 8A, the initial screen displaying group menus including“Favorite” representing a combination of the frequently used specifiedfunctions, in addition to the apparatus menus.

[0016] Next, cursor 1A in FIG. 8A is moved to “Favorite”, and “SETTING”button 2H is pressed. Upon detecting this press, controller 3 bringsabout a state in which the individual functions can be added to“Favorite”.

[0017] Subsequently, the same procedure used in turning on the power tothe television by remote control is followed. Specifically, cursor 1A ismoved to “TV”, and then “ENTER” button 2C is pressed. Thereafter, cursor1A is moved to “ON”, and “ENTER” button 2C is pressed. In this way, thefunction for turning on the power to the television can be added to“Favorite”.

[0018] Next, “HOME” button 2B is pressed, whereby the initial screen isrestored. When “ENTER” button 2C is pressed with cursor 1A moved to“VCR” denoting the videocassette recorder, a screen such as illustratedby FIG. 8C appears, displaying the individual functions including “ON”,which represents the turning-on of the power to the videocassetterecorder.

[0019] When “ENTER” button 2C is pressed with cursor 1A located at “ON”on this screen, the function for turning on the power to thevideocassette recorder is added to “Favorite”.

[0020] Thereafter, “SETTING” button 2H is pressed. By detecting thispress, controller 3 judges that the setting has been terminated, andrestores the view of display part 1 to the initial screen.

[0021] As described above, in addition of the individual function to“Favorite”, “HOME” button 2B must be pressed to restore the initialscreen displaying the group menus and others.

[0022] When “Favorite” is selected on the initial screen, a screenshowing the functions such as turning on the power to the television andturning on the power to the videocassette recorder is displayed. Bypressing “ENTER” button 2C with cursor 1A moved to the function forturning on the power to the television on that screen, such remotecontrol as to turn on the power to the television can be carried out.

[0023] A description is provided next of setting or storage of theplurality of individual functions including turning on the power to thetelevision, turning on the power to the videocassette recorder andplaying back the videocassette, and transmission of all these setfunctions.

[0024] First, “HOME” button 2B is pressed to display, as shown in FIG.8A, the initial screen displaying the group menus including “Macro”representing a combination of the individual functions, in addition tothe apparatus menus.

[0025] Next, cursor 1A is moved to “Macro”, and “SETTING” button 2H ispressed. In the same manner as in the addition of the specifiedfunctions to “Favorite”, the function for turning on the power to thetelevision, the function for turning on the power to the videocassetterecorder and the function for playing back the videocassette are addedto “Macro” in this order.

[0026] Thereafter, “SETTING” button 2H is pressed. By detecting thispress, controller 3 judges that the setting has been terminated andrestores the view of display part 1 to the initial screen.

[0027] As described above, even in addition of the individual functionsto “Macro”, “HOME” button 2B must be pressed to restore the initialscreen displaying the group menus and others.

[0028] When “ENTER” button 2C is pressed with cursor 1A moved to “Macro”on the initial screen, controller 3 detects this press and successivelyoutputs the electric signal corresponding to the turning-on of the powerto the television, the electric signal corresponding to the turning-onof the power to the videocassette recorder and the electric signalcorresponding to the replay of the videocassette in this order forremote control.

[0029] Accordingly, transmitter 4 converts these electric signals intothe infrared signals and transmits those infrared signals, wherebyfirst, the power to the television is turned on, next, the power to thevideocassette recorder is turned on, and then the videocassette isreplayed.

[0030] Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2002-152863 is knownas an example of conventional art that pertains to the above-describedinvention.

[0031] The above-described conventional remote control transmitter,however, requires that in setting of the specified function such as thefrequently used individual function, “HOME” button 2B should be pressedto restore the initial screen displaying the group menus eachrepresenting the combination of the set individual functions, andothers. The correspondence between an overview of the plurality of groupmenus and the individual functions of the specified group menu is thushard to understand, and accordingly, the specified function is hard toset.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0032] A remote control transmitter includes:

[0033] a display part for displaying at least one of an individualfunction of an apparatus to be remotely controlled and a group menurepresenting a combination of the individual functions;

[0034] an operating part for selecting and deciding on the at least oneof the individual function and the group menu;

[0035] a transmitter for sending a signal for remotely controlling theapparatus; and

[0036] a controller for controlling a view of the display part inresponse to an operation of the operating part,

[0037] wherein the controller causes the display part to display thegroup menu and the individual functions of the group menu simultaneouslywhen the group menu is selected by the operation of the operating part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038]FIG. 1 is an external view of a remote control transmitter inaccordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0039]FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the remote control transmitter inFIG. 1.

[0040]FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D illustrate respective views of the remotecontrol transmitter of FIG. 1.

[0041]FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D illustrate respective views of the remotecontrol transmitter of FIG. 1.

[0042]FIG. 5 is an external view of a remote control transmitter inaccordance with the first exemplary embodiment of this invention.

[0043]FIG. 6 is an external view of a conventional remote controltransmitter.

[0044]FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the conventional remote controltransmitter.

[0045]FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate respective views of theconventional remote control transmitter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are demonstratedhereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1-5.

[0047] (First Embodiment)

[0048]FIG. 1 is an external view of a remote control transmitter inaccordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the same remote control transmitter.In FIG. 1, the remote control transmitter is provided with display part11, such as a liquid crystal display element, at its left front.

[0049] On a left portion of display part 11, a plurality of group menus20 is provided vertically on an outer periphery of a cylindrical frameand includes “CHANNEL” and “INPUT”, each representing a combination ofindividual functions of an apparatus to be remotely controlled.

[0050] Here, translucent cursor 11A used for selecting a displayedoption is displayed at middle group menu 20, “CHANNEL”.

[0051] On the right of these group menus 20, a plurality of individualfunctions 21 is provided vertically on an outer periphery of anothercylindrical frame and includes “Channel 1” and “Channel 2”, representingthe respective individual functions in group menu 20, “CHANNEL”, whichis being selected by cursor 11A.

[0052] Above these group menus 20 and individual functions 21, apparatusmenus 22 including “TV”, which denotes the television to be remotelycontrolled, and representative menus 23 including “Customize”, whichrepresents a combination of group menus 20, are arranged side by side.

[0053] At the right front of the remote control transmitter, “POWER”button 12A, “RETURN” button 12B and others are disposed, thus formingoperating part 12.

[0054] Display part 11 is provided with so-called transparent touchpanel 16 at its front. This panel 16 is formed of a flexible uppersubstrate having transparent upper electrodes made of indium-tin oxideor the like on its bottom surface, and a lower substrate having, on itstop surface, lower electrodes facing the respective upper electrodesacross a specified clearance.

[0055] The remote control transmitter is stored with controller 13formed of, for example, a microcomputer. Transmitter 14 formed of, forexample, an infrared-emitting diode is disposed above display part 11,converts an electric signal from controller 13 into an infrared signaland transmits the infrared signal.

[0056] Transmitter 14, display part 11, operating part 12 andtransparent touch panel 16 are connected to controller 13. In this way,the remote control transmitter is formed.

[0057] A description is provided hereinafter of setting or storage ofthe plurality of frequently used individual functions and transmissionof a specified function of these set functions through use of thethus-constructed remote control transmitter.

[0058] First, “POWER” button 12A is pressed. Upon detecting this press,controller 13 causes display part 11 to display an initial screen, suchas shown in FIG. 1. The initial screen shows individual functions 21,group menus 20, apparatus menus 22, representative menus 23 and otherssimultaneously.

[0059] Here, cursors 11A appear on upper-left apparatus menu 22, “TV”,and middle group menu 20, “CHANNEL”, respectively.

[0060] Next, a part of transparent touch panel 16 that is in front of“Customize”, which is representative menu 23, is touched, whereby theupper and lower electrodes of panel 16 that correspond to this part arebrought to an ON state. Upon detecting this ON state, controller 13moves cursor 11A to “Customize” as shown in FIG. 3A.

[0061] Controller 13 also effects display of the cylindrical frame on alower-left portion and group menu name selection screen 24 displayingvertically arranged names of group menus 20 on the right of thecylindrical frame. The names of group menus 20 include “Favorite-1”,which will be displayed on the cylindrical frame.

[0062] When a part of transparent touch panel 16 that is in front of“Favorite-1” is touched on the above screen, controller 13 effects, asshown in FIG. 3B, display of “Favorite-1” as group menu 20 on the outerperiphery of the left cylindrical frame.

[0063] Thereafter, a part of transparent touch panel 16 that is in frontof “TV”, which is apparatus menu 22 denoting the television, is touched.Accordingly, cursor 11A appears on “TV” as shown in FIG. 3C, thusselecting the television.

[0064] Here, function name selection screen 25 appears in place of thecylindrical frame displaying group menu 20, and another cylindricalframe appears on the right of this screen 25. Function name selectionscreen 25 displays vertically arranged names of the individual functionsof the television, such as “ON”.

[0065] Subsequently, a part of transparent touch panel 16 that is infront of “ON” is touched on function name selection screen 25.Accordingly, “TV ON”, which is individual function 21 for turning on thepower to the television, appears on the outer periphery of the rightcylindrical frame as shown in FIG. 3D.

[0066] In other words, “TV ON”, which is individual function 21, isadded to “Favorite-1”, which is group menu 20, by controller 13.

[0067] Next, a part of transparent touch panel 16 that is in front of“VCR”, which is apparatus menu 22 denoting the videocassette recorder,is touched. Accordingly, cursor 11A moves from “TV” to “VCR” as shown inFIG. 4A.

[0068] Here, the names of the individual functions of the televisionthat have been displayed on function name selection screen 25 arereplaced by names of the individual functions of the videocassetterecorder.

[0069] Next, the same operation used in setting “TV ON” is performed on“ON”, which represents turning-on of the power to the videocassetterecorder, and “PLAY”, which represents a replay of a videocassette, onfunction name selection screen 25. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4B,“VCR ON” and “VCR PLAY” are displayed as individual functions 21 on theouter periphery of the cylindrical frame, in addition to “TV ON”.

[0070] Thereafter, “RETURN” button 12B is pressed, whereby controller 13judges that the setting has been terminated, erases cursor 11A locatedat “VCR” (apparatus menu 22) and cursor 11A located at “Customize”(representative menu 23) and effects display of cursor 11A at “Favorite”(representative menu 23) as shown in FIG. 4C.

[0071] Controller 13 also replaces function name selection screen 25with the cylindrical frame showing group menu 20, “Favorite-1”, on itsouter periphery.

[0072] In other words, group menu 20 (“Favorite-1”) and its individualfunctions 21 (i.e. “TV ON”, “VCR ON” and “VCR PLAY”) are displayedsimultaneously.

[0073] Next, a part of transparent touch panel 16 that is in front of,for example, “TV ON” (individual function 21) is touched. Upon detectingthis touch, controller 13 outputs the electric signal corresponding tothe turning-on of the power to the television. Transmitter 14 convertsthis electric signal into the infrared signal and transmits thisinfrared signal. Consequently, the power to the television is turned onby remote control.

[0074] A description is provided next of setting or storage of theplurality of individual functions including turning on the power to thetelevision, turning on the power to the videocassette recorder andplaying back the videocassette, and transmission of all these setfunctions.

[0075] First, the part of transparent touch panel 16 that is in front of“Customize”, which is representative menu 23, is touched. Accordingly,group menu name selection screen 24 appears as shown in FIG. 3A,displaying the vertically arranged names of group menus 20, including“Favorite-1” and “Macro-1”.

[0076] Next, in the same manner as in the addition of the individualfunctions to “Favorite-1”, a part of transparent touch panel 16 that isin front of “Macro-1” is touched, whereby “Macro-1” is selected.Subsequently, the same individual functions as those added to“Favorite-1” are added to “Macro-1” in the same order.

[0077] As a result, as shown in FIG. 4D, group menu 20, “Macro-1”, isdisplayed in addition to “Favorite-1” with the same individual functionsas those of “Favorite-1” displayed on the right.

[0078] In other words, group menu 20 (“Macro-1”) and its individualfunctions 21 (i.e. “TV ON”, “VCR ON” and “VCR PLAY”) are displayedsimultaneously.

[0079] Next, a part of transparent touch panel 16 that is in front of“Macro-1” is touched. Upon detecting this touch, controller 13 decideson “Macro-1” (group menu 20) and successively outputs the electricsignal corresponding to the turning-on of the power to the television,the electric signal corresponding to the turning-on of the power to thevideocassette recorder and the electric signal corresponding to thereplay of the videocassette in this order for remote control.

[0080] Accordingly, transmitter 14 converts these electric signals intothe infrared signals and transmits those infrared signals. As a result,first, the power to the television is turned on, next, the power to thevideocassette recorder is turned on, and then the videocassette isreplayed by remote control.

[0081] Even to remotely control the specified apparatus by selection ofthis apparatus, not through the performance of the individual functionsset in the above manner, the same operation used in performing the setindividual functions can be done.

[0082] For example, to call up Channel 2 on the television by remotecontrol, first, “TV”, which is apparatus menu 22, is touched in FIG. 1to select the television.

[0083] Next, if “CHANNEL” representing the combination of the individualfunctions of the television is not group menu 20 being selected,“CHANNEL” is touched to be selected.

[0084] Then “Channel 2”, which is one of the plurality of individualfunctions 21 included in “CHANNEL” (group menu 20), is touched to bedecided on.

[0085] As described above, the remote control transmitter of the firstembodiment is so constructed that when group menu 20 representing thecombination of individual functions 21 is selected by the operation ofoperating part 12, controller 13 effects display of individual functions21 of selected group menu 20 in parallel with group menus 20. Since thecorrespondence between an overview of the plurality of group menus 20and individual functions 21 of specified group menu 20 is easy tounderstand, the remote control transmitter obtained allows easy settingof the specified function.

[0086] Deciding on specified group menu 20 by the operation of operatingpart 12 results in the transmission of all individual functions 21included in this group menu 20, so that the operation for suchtransmission is facilitated. Deciding on specified individual function21 of specified group menu 20 that is displayed in parallel withspecified group menu 20 results in the transmission of only thisspecified function 21, so that the operation for such transmission isfacilitated.

[0087] Displaying apparatus menu 22, which denotes the apparatus to beremotely controlled, in addition to group menu 20 and individualfunction 21 facilitates the selection of group menu 20 of the specifiedapparatus. Displaying representative menu 23, which represents thecombination of the group menus, in addition to group menu 20 andindividual function 21 facilitates the selection of group menu 20 of thespecified representative menu.

[0088] Displaying group menu 20 and individual function 21 on therespective cylindrical frames can easily remind that, even when groupmenus 20 or individual functions 21 are too many to be all displayed,group menu 20 or individual function 21 that cannot be displayed is inhiding on a back side of the cylindrical frame. This facilitates theselection of specified group menu 20 or specified individual function21.

[0089] In the above description of the first embodiment, transparenttouch panel 16 is disposed at the front of display part 11 for operationsuch as selecting or deciding on group menu 20 or individual function21. However, instead of this touch panel 16, a button, a trackball, apad or the like may be used for such selection and decision.

[0090] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, selection button 12E which turnsvertically for vertical selection, left and right selection buttons 12F,12G, and “ENTER” button 12H may be formed. With selection buttons 12E,12F, 12G, cursor 11A is moved to select group menu 20 or individualfunction 21. With “ENTER” button 12H, the one selected is decided on.

[0091] Forming selection button 12E, which not only turns vertically butalso can be pressed, placing a switch behind this button 12E forelectrical conduction responsive to the press and forming “ENTER” button12H integrally with selection button 12E not only allows the selectionof the function but also the decision with one selection button 12E,thus furthering ease of use.

[0092] Selection button 12E can be made spherical and can be formedintegrally with left and right selection buttons 12F, 12G.

[0093] The remote control transmitter may have selection button 12E onits right side instead of at its right front.

[0094] The description has referred to simultaneous display of twoapparatus menus 22 and two representative menus 23. However, in caseswhere the number of menus is too large, causing hard view, the menus maybe pushed one after another to the left and right to be all displayed bypushing parts in front of respective left and right ends 26, 27, whichface each other across the menus as shown in FIG. 3A.

[0095] In cases where the number of names on group menu name selectionscreen 24 or function name selection screen 25 is too large, causinghard view, the names may be pushed one after another upwardly anddownwardly to be all displayed by touching parts in front of respectiveupper and lower ends 28 and 29 or 30 and 31 facing each other across thenames.

[0096] In the above description, the name of group menu 20 or the likeis selected from group menu name selection screen 24 or the like.However, the name such as “Favorite-1” may be changed to a favorite namesuch as “Favorite” by inputting letters or the like.

[0097] In the above description, deciding on “Macro-1” (group menu 20)results in the transmission of all individual functions 21 included in“Macro-1”. However, individual functions 21 included in another groupmenu 20 such as “Favorite-1” may all be transmitted by selecting“Favorite-1” and selecting “Favorite-1” once again, whereby “Favorite-1”is decided on.

[0098] According to the present invention described above, the remotecontrol transmitter obtained allows easy setting of the specifiedfunction.

What is claimed is:
 1. A remote control transmitter comprising: adisplay part for displaying at least one of an individual function of anapparatus to be remotely controlled and a group menu representing acombination of the individual functions; an operating part for selectingand deciding on the at least one of the individual function and thegroup menu; a transmitter for sending a signal for remotely controllingthe apparatus; and a controller for controlling a view of the displaypart in response to an operation of the operating part, wherein thecontroller causes the display part to display the group menu and theindividual functions of the group menu simultaneously when the groupmenu is selected by the operation of the operating part.
 2. The remotecontrol transmitter of claim 1, wherein the individual functions of thegroup menu are all transmitted when the group menu is decided on by theoperation of the operating part, and only a specified individualfunction is transmitted when the specified individual function displayedin parallel with the group menu is decided on.
 3. The remote controltransmitter of claim 1, wherein the display part displays at least oneof an apparatus menu, which denotes the apparatus to be remotelycontrolled, and a representative menu, which represents a combination ofthe group menus, in addition to the group menu and the individualfunction.
 4. The remote control transmitter of claim 1, wherein thegroup menu is displayed on an outer periphery of a cylindrical frame,and the individual function is displayed on an outer periphery of acylindrical frame.
 5. The remote control transmitter of claim 1, whereinthe operating part includes a plurality of selection buttons forselecting and deciding on the at least one of the individual functionand the group menu.
 6. The remote control transmitter of claim 5,wherein at least one of the plurality of selection buttons is spherical.